Magic Johnson Admits How Gaining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s Trust Got Him Roasted but Also a High Five: “It Took Him All Season”

Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were instrumental in creating an iconic Los Angeles Lakers dynasty in the 80s. They won five championship titles together and dominated the league each year. However, dynasties aren’t built overnight nor do they just emerge out of thin air. It takes years of blood, sweat, and tears with the aspect of team building. Team building is probably the most integral part of creating a championship-winning team. Moreover, without chemistry amongst players, a team cannot function optimally. This is the blueprint the Lakers had to follow as well, especially when Magic joined the team in 1979. 

Magic Johnson was the guest on the latest episode of the All the Smoke show with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson. On the show, he spoke about the rocky start in his relationship with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and how the NBA Legend’s acceptance led to the creation of a dynasty. 

Magic Johnson on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar being cold toward him

Matt Barnes, an ex-NBA star, asked Johnson – “How long did it take for Kareem to adjust to what you were selling?” Johnson replied, “It took him all season that first year.” 

Following this revelation, the studio broke into a fit of laughter. Johnson added that when he was drafted, the talk around the team was that Johnson, a rookie, was about to take control and lead the team. Hence the But this wasn’t his mind. He wanted to help the team, help the team be successful. He recollected a conversation he had with Abdul-Jabbar on the first day of training.

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Johnson said, “I said where do you like the ball? he said how do you like the ball. I said you like it high, at your chest. you like it low. he said no I like it high. I said that’s where it will be every single time.” Despite making his intentions clear, Abdul-Jabbar was cold towards Johnson. 

The ice-breaker game

Following this, he spoke about his first game as a Laker. This game also proved to be ice-breaking between the two NBA Legends. He stated that it was a game in San Diego and there were about three seconds left on the clock. Abdul-Jabbar had the ball, and he did the unthinkable. While standing at the free-throw line, he turned, jumped up, and shot a sky hook.

Johnson was in disbelief and awe for he had never seen something like that before. He said, “I go running, I jump and I’m hold choking him hugging him and I didn’t let go for about two or three mins because never seen a shot like that.” In another interview, while talking about the same incident, Johnson revealed that Abdul-Jabbar asked him not to hug him like that ever again. Johnson denied fulfilling this request.

With this incident as the icebreaking, it took around 20 games for Kareem to finally give in to Magic’s excitement and gave him a high-five.

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